Tom Ricks of WaPo says that the US military sees itself as fighting 3 wars: 1. The war against Arab volunteers (“al-Qaeda”) 2. The war against Sunni Arab Iraqi dissidents 3. The war against Shiite militias. The officers he talks to feel good about the second war, which they feel has petered out as Sunni […]
91 Dead in 2 Baghdad Blasts
Two women set off separate suicide bombs in two markets in Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 91 persons and wounding a similar number. Contrary to what this AP squib implies, the bombings suggest neither that “al-Qaeda” is running out of men nor that it is desperate. Women were used because they would be less […]
Cole in Salon: "Blowback from the GOP’s Holy War’
My Salon column is out: Blowback from the GOP’s holy war:The 2008 Republican race has left a bitter legacy of sloganeering against Muslims. It may well haunt the party this November. Excerpt: ‘Giuliani complained that during their debates, Democratic rivals “never mentioned the word ‘Islamic terrorist,’ ‘Islamic extremist,’ ‘Islamic fascist,’ ‘terrorist,’ whatever combination of those […]
US Soldier Killed; British Base Rocketed; Bombings in Baghdad
People keep asking in puzzlement what Bush expected to get out of his Iraq misadventure. It is the oil, habibi, the oil. Akhbar al-Khalij newspaper is charging that US oil interests offered each Iraqi parliamentarian $5 million to pass the oil and gas law (hat tip to Digby. Steven R. Hurst of AP writes that […]
Iraq and Iran in the Democratic Debate
Here are the Iraq portions of the Barack-Hillary debate in Los Angeles Thursday night. Both candidates impressed me with their grasp of detail and the serious thought that they have given for how to get out of Iraq without leaving behind a catastrophe that will come around to bite us on the ass. Chuck Todd […]
One Million Iraqis Killed; Humanitarian Crisis of Vast Proportions; 6 Bombings in Baghdad
Ambassador Marc Ginsburg is astonished that John McCain could win in Florida on a platform of a Hundred Years War in Iraq and phony slogans about “victory” that McCain is careful never to define. In my view, McCain’s mantra about “victory” in Iraq is the 2008 equivalent of Nixon having a “secret plan” to end […]
Afghanistan: Danger of Failed State
Several new studies have just appeared warning that things could go very badly very easily in Afghanistan, which could turn into a failed state. One bad side effect, a British study concluded, would be the discrediting of NATO. Barney Rubin weighs in on what could be done from Kabul. An Australian study thinks Australian troops […]
5 US troops Wounded; 5 Killed Monday put on Planes; Who is thinking about the 18-year Olds?
AP reports that: ‘ A bomb exploded at a checkpoint Tuesday in Baghdad, wounding five American soldiers and three civilians, the U.S. military said. Iraqi officials claimed it was a suicide bombing and said two people were killed. The attack occurred just after noon as women were being searched before being allowed to enter a […]
One last Argument with Bush
When Bush first came in, the comedian Will Ferrell did a skit on the television show “Saturday Night Live” that depicted the president cowering under his desk as bombs went off in Washington and the country went down the tubes. Coming after the prosperity and relative peace of the Clinton years, it seemed a fantastic […]
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